Mayor, state secretary tour Lawrence park projects

LAWRENCE – Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett and Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera Thursday led a tour of Ferrous Site, Spicket River Greenway, Manchester Street Park and Campagnone Common, all park projects reflecting the more than $9 million in state funds invested in parks and open space in Lawrence.

“Open space and outdoor recreation investments are a critical component of building robust, healthy communities,” Bartlett said in a statement after the tour.

“Our parks and open spaces in the community have been greatly improved throughout the Patrick Administration, a direct result of their continued support,” Rivera said in the statement. “They have played a key role in helping to make Lawrence better through their investment in our parks and open spaces and the result is a better quality of life for our residents.”

Bartlett presented a citation from Gov. Deval Patrick to Heather McMann, Executive Director of Groundwork Lawrence, in recognition of the organization's efforts to expand access to outdoor recreation and make Lawrence a cleaner, greener and healthier city.

With its location at the confluence of the Merrimack and Spicket Rivers, the park at the Ferrous Site will serve as a capstone to the Spicket River Greenway at its southern end.

The Patrick Administration’s investments in Lawrence include a $2.6 million grant through the Gateway City Parks Program for the design and construction of the Spicket River Greenway, a 3.5 mile trail pedestrian and bicycle trail that opened in July 2013. The Greenway connects parks, green spaces and community gardens through multiple neighborhoods. In addition to helping the city of Lawrence and Groundwork Lawrence with the design and construction of the Greenway, the Administration has funded upgrades to the Oxford Paper Site Park, Misserville Park and Manchester Street Park, which are situated along the Greenway.

The administration has also invested more than $1.2 million for improvements to Lawrence’s historic Campagnone (North) Common, a few blocks south of the Greenway.